Davutoglu: Syrian conflict has claimed 74 Turkish lives

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that 74 citizens of Turkey have so far been killed in incidents relating to the war raging across neighbouring Syria.

Hurriyet Daily News tells us that the Foreign Minister cited this figure when the deputy head of Sezgin Tanrikulu of Turkey's main opposition Republic Peoples Party submitted the question in parliament.

Davutoglu stressed that Turkish citizens living near the Turkish frontier with Syria are in danger of stray fire and clashes. He explained that, "74 citizens have been killed and 337 citizens have been wounded as a result of stray bullets fired in the clashes on the Syrian side, Syrian-linked terror incidents and illegal border crossings, according to data from the Turkish General Staff."

A concrete wall is presently being built in the province of Hatay along the border in order to try and prevent infiltration and illegal crossing of the border from Syria.

World Bulletin also informs us that Davutoglu has declared that the Turkish army presently policing the border are well equipped with the necessary equipment needed to effectively carry out the job.

He also said that Turkey will continue to adhere to international agreements when it comes to protecting and defending its border with Syria.